Page 23 of Veil of Silence

“Why would you do that?” The words came out sharper than he intended.

“Because your father disappeared while investigating my brother, and he called me before he vanished.” She held his gaze. “I also know the Old Mill Road area. And I’m a nurse. If he’s out there hurt, I might actually be useful.”

Austin’s first instinct was to refuse. He didn’t want company, and he certainly didn’t want responsibility for anyone else right now.

But Nora knew the area better than he did, and he couldn’t afford to waste time arguing.

With that thought, he muttered, “Fine. Let’s go.”

Chapter

Eight

The GPS took Austin and Nora off the main highway and onto a narrow county road winding through thick, mountainous woods.

Nora had been quiet for most of the drive, and Austin appreciated that. He didn’t feel like talking. Every possible explanation had been running through his head since Deputy Harlan’s call.

Dad had gotten turned around. Dad had gone walking. Dad had followed someone into the woods.

Dad had fallen.

That last possibility kept coming back.

He had a bad knee. High blood pressure. No medication since Tuesday.

Austin tightened his hands around the steering wheel. Beside him, Nora glanced over but didn’t say anything.

A few miles later, the pavement narrowed before giving way to gravel.

“There.” Nora pointed ahead. “That’s the trailhead.”

Austin turned into the small parking area. Two sheriff’s cruisers were angled near the entrance, and his father’s Camry sat at the far end of the lot beside a line of trees.

He parked near one of the cruisers and shut off the engine.

A uniformed deputy approached as Austin and Nora climbed out. “Agent Donnelly? I’m Deputy Harlan.”

Austin nodded. “Where are your searchers?”

“We have three deputies out here. One is on the main trail, one is checking the creek, and another is working the road shoulder and parking area.”

Austin looked at the Camry. The doors were closed, and nothing about the vehicle appeared unusual. That somehow made it worse.

“Show me.”

Harlan led him across the gravel. Austin stopped beside the driver’s door but didn’t touch it.

First, Austin studied the parking area. His father had parked at the farthest edge of the lot, closer to the trees than to the main trailhead. But a faint opening cut through the brush a few yards away.

“That’s an old maintenance trail,” Harlan said.

Austin looked at Harlan. “Has anyone checked it?”

“Not yet. We started with the main trail and the creek. That’s next.”

Austin was already hurrying toward it.

“Agent Donnelly,” Harlan called. “Wait. We’ll go together.”